Our Ponchatoula

I do not want to sound ungrateful, and I do wish the Strawberry Festival crowd comes back throughout the year, but hopefully in groups numbering no more than 10 at a time. Whew! What a triumph for Our Ponchatoula, a victory borrowed from the many who worked in ways great and small over the past year to make the state's biggest festival the best family event of 2009.

There were oh so many visitors! And you would think by looking at them hanging on every square inch of my protective (for me) cage that they had never seen an alligator who writes a weekly newspaper column. Sometime about when the last parade float passed, after those two lithesome Irish lasses marshaled the long line of parade entries past, I exhaled mightily and sank to the comparatively safe bottom of my gated pool, only to just now resurface to see Ponchatoula returned to what here is considered normal.

Are there any strawberries left?

Lauren Lafargue, just how serious are you about marrying this tall and handsome fellow Army officer fiance of yours? I mean, you sent out this wonderful "Save The Date" announcement listing the location of your wedding, and of your reception, all the information your guests might need to attend the Big Day, except of course for the date. I'd tease you, except for your heavy weapons training and the aforementioned really big and handsome battle-hardened lucky man of yours who will come to love, as do we all, your charming little slips.

Melissa Poole, of The Big Red Barn, 18769 Weinberger Road in Ponchatoula is offering kids art classes this year. Check out her wee arts college online at bigredbarn4kids.com
If you think Michelle Aycock and David Gueldner are up to one mind blowing adventure then you have good sources indeed. I am pledged to secrecy until next week's edition. Until then, ready your outrigger canoe and rub on some volcano repellent because this promises to be one for the books!